Overview

This bill amends the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to explicitly include sports coaches as individuals holding positions of trust. This change aims to strengthen legal protection for children against sexual abuse by those in coaching roles.

Description

The bill makes two key amendments to the Sexual Offences Act 2003:

• Amendment to Section 21: Adds a new subsection defining a "sports coach" as someone who trains individuals or groups in a sport, or assists in such training. This makes it clear that sports coaches are in a position of trust, and offenses against minors by those in coaching capacities are thus more easily prosecutable.
• Amendment to Section 22: Defines "sports coach" within the section interpreting positions of trust, solidifying the legal definition.

The bill applies only to England and Wales and comes into force four weeks after being passed.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to have a significant direct impact on UK government spending. The primary cost implications relate to potential increases in prosecutions and support services for victims, which are difficult to quantify in advance.

Groups Affected

• Children: The bill aims to better protect children involved in sports by clarifying the legal standing of sports coaches as individuals in positions of trust, making prosecution for abuse easier.
• Sports Coaches: The bill may affect sports coaches by increasing legal scrutiny of their interactions with children and potentially leading to stricter background checks.
• Sporting Organizations: Sporting organizations will need to ensure they have robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place to comply with the updated legislation. This could include improved training for coaches and stricter vetting processes.
• Law Enforcement Agencies: This bill may increase the workload for law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting cases of child sexual abuse related to sports coaching.

Powered by nyModel